Post hole presser and digger



May 30, 1933. p FLETCHER 1,911,679

POST HOLE .PRESSER AND BIGGER Filed May 19, 1932 JZP $161 32? M 4 w I Wm,

Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED STATES ARLEY 1?. FLETCHER, OF PENDLETON,'OBEGON-* POST HOLE PRESSER AND BIGGER Application filed May 19,

This invention relates to a digging means and more particularly to a means for digging a post hole or the hke.

An object of this invention is to provide 5 a lever to which is secured a shoe for engagement with the side wall of a hole to pack the dirt and at the same time enlarge the hole so that a post will snugly fit within the post hole thereby eliminating the necessity of stamping or packing the earth about the post after it has been inserted within the post hole.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind which is exceedingly simple in construction and which may be manufactured out of a single piece of metal so as to render the cost thereof such Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail side ele-- vation of the device in a hole formed by the device.

Referring to the drawing wherein numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the

49 numeral 10 designates generally a handle of desired length and thickness which has secured to or formed therewith an elongated lever 11, which is preferably disposed on an obtuse angle to the longitudinal axis of the handle 10. This lever 11 terminates at the lower end thereof in an extension 12 which extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the handle 10, and a pressing and digging member 14 is secured to or formed 50 with this extension 12. This foot 14 has like 1932. 7 Serial 'No. 612,358.

a hole engaging face 15, which is disposed in substantial alinementfwith the longitudinal axis of the handle 10, and the lower end of this foot 14 terminates in a relatively pointed end portion16, the purpose for which will be hereinafter described.

The face portion17 of the lever 11 is adapted to engage the side wallof a post hole 18, which'has been dug by the'footor digging member 14 and the rocking of the 0 handle 10 will cause the lower end of this i lever 11 to forcethe foot or digging member 14 against the side Wall of the hole 13, so as to firmly pack the'material and prevent caving in of the wall of the hole While ,65 at the same time enlarging the hole;

Through the use of this device; the hole may be made only sufliciently large as to snugly receive the post which can he slipped down into the hole and, if'desir'ed, the ta-1 7t) pered endportion 16 of the foot or digging member 14 may be used as a tamping member to pack the dirt at the surface of the ground about the surface of the post.

In the present instance, the handle 10,.75 together with the other component parts attached thereto, are formed of a single piece of metal but I, of course, do not wish to be limited to this particular construction as, if desired,jtheseparts may be made ofyso separate pieces either welded, forged or otherwise secured together in the relation disclosed. In addition to the foot or digging member 14 serving as a packing member to pack the dirt at the bottom' of thehole, the face portion 17 will also serve as a packing member to pack the dirt at the side of the hole 13 above-the bottom;

In the use andoperation of this device, the hole 13 is initially started by raising the device and striking the ground with the lower end of the foot or digging member 14 and swung in a circular motion, and when the hole is-deep enough, the outer edge 7 portion 17 will pack the side wall of the hole 13 above the bottom and will serve as a spreading means to enlarge the hole While' the foot 14 pushes the dirt laterally at the bottom of the hole. During the digging operation, the foot or digging member 1 1 serves as a fulcrum so that the packing member 17 may be engaged with the wall of the hole to pack the dirt and enlarge the hole to receive the post. When the hole has been dug deep enough, the post may be inserted therein and if it is slightly loose, the lower end portion 16 of the foot or digging mem ber 14 may be tamped in the ground at the side of the post so as to pack the dirt at the top of the ground about the surface of the post. In this manner, the post Will be more firmly secured in the ground than is possible where only the dirt at the top of the hole is packed as is possible with the'implements at present in use. This device will pack the ground so that the post will remain in its initially mounted position after the ground about the post has thoroughly packed under the action of the weather and the like. 7

It is, of course, understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims."

WVhat'is claimed is 2-5- 1. A pressing means comprising a handle, a lever carried by the handle and disposed on an obtuse angle to the longitudinal axis of the handle, and a pressing foot substantially alining with the axis of the handle carried by the lever and offset therefrom in a direction toward the axis of the handle.

2. A pressing means comprising a handle, a lever formed with one end of the handle and disposed on an obtuse-angle to the longitudinal axis of the handle, one side of said lever constituting a packing member, and'a pressing foot carried by the lever in offset relation thereto, said foot being disposed in substantial alinement with the longitudinal axis of the handle.

3. A pressing means comprising a handle,

a lever carried by the handle and disposed on an obtuse angle to the longitudinal axis of the handle, an extension carried by the lower end of said lever, said extension being disposed in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the handle, and a pressing foot carried by the extension and disposed in substantial alinement with the longitudinal axis of the handle.

; In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

ARLEY P. FLETCHER. 

